EU ambassadors were discussing Commission proposals to restrict Russian access to EU finance and defence and energy technology on Thursday.

"That discussion is also due to continue next week. As and when the member states have decided ... how they want to proceed and exactly what they want to do, then at that stage the Commission ... will present legislative proposals," Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd told reporters.

"Those legislative proposals would then have to be adopted by the appropriate procedures, by the member states, normally next week," he added.